The 2002 romance shot almost entirely in North Carolina, from Wilmington streets to a Southport church and a plantation chapel.
A Walk To Remember was filmed mainly in Wilmington, North Carolina, with additional scenes shot in nearby Southport, Atkinson, and Orton Plantation in Winnabow. Principal photography ran from April 6 to May 27, 2001, and lasted only 39 days. Though the story is set in the fictional town of Beaufort, every location used was in North Carolina.
The 2002 adaptation of Nicholas Sparks's novel turned a stretch of the North Carolina coast into the fictional town of Beaufort. Production based itself at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington and fanned out across the region, borrowing locations from another production shooting at the same time.
The result is a compact, easy-to-reach set of filming sites. Most sit in or near Wilmington and Southport, two towns about half an hour apart, and several can be seen in a single day of driving.
| Location | Where | What was filmed | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1716 Chestnut Street | Wilmington | Jamie's house | Free to see |
| Trinity United Methodist Church | Southport | Church scenes including sermon and wedding | Free to see |
| Orton Plantation / Luola's Chapel | Winnabow | Wedding scene at chapel | Private property |
| Old Smithville Burying Ground | Southport | Cemetery scene | Free to see |
| Atkinson Town Hall | Atkinson | School exterior and driving scenes | Free to see |
| Oliver's on the Cape Fear | Southport | Restaurant scene | Ticketed |
| Wilmington | Wilmington | Various street and town scenes | Free to see |
| Southport | Southport | Multiple scenes including church and cemetery | Free to see |
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North Carolina, Wilmington Free to see
Filmed here: Jamie's house
This private Wilmington residence served as Jamie's house in the film. Fans can walk or drive past and recognize the exterior from the street, but the home is privately owned, so viewing is limited to the sidewalk. It sits in a residential neighborhood close to other Wilmington filming spots, which makes it an easy add-on to a walking or driving tour of the city's movie locations.
North Carolina, Southport Free to see
Filmed here: Church scenes including sermon and wedding
The church scenes, including the sermon and the wedding, were shot at Trinity United Methodist Church in Southport. It remains an active congregation, and visitors are welcome as long as they are respectful of worship and church activities. The building is one of the most recognizable stops for fans, sitting in a small coastal town where several other scenes were filmed within a short walk or drive.
North Carolina, Winnabow Private property
Filmed here: Wedding scene at chapel
The wedding scene at the chapel was filmed at Luola's Chapel on the grounds of Orton Plantation near Winnabow. The property is private, and access requires permission from the owner, so travelers should not expect to simply walk in. Because entry is restricted, this is the hardest site on the list to visit, and most fans admire it from what limited vantage points exist or content themselves with the other accessible locations.
North Carolina, Southport Free to see
Filmed here: Cemetery scene
The cemetery scene was filmed at Old Smithville Burying Ground in Southport, a historic cemetery that is open to the public. Visitors can wander the old graves at their own pace and find the spot used in the film. It sits very close to Trinity United Methodist Church, so the two Southport stops pair naturally on foot, and the coastal setting adds atmosphere even beyond the movie connection.
North Carolina, Atkinson Free to see
Filmed here: School exterior and driving scenes
The school exterior and several driving scenes were shot around Atkinson Town Hall in the small town of Atkinson, north of Wilmington. The area is public and exterior views are freely available. Travelers making the trip should note it is a modest, quiet stop rather than a polished attraction, best suited to completists retracing specific shots from the film.
North Carolina, Southport Ticketed
Filmed here: Restaurant scene
The restaurant scene was filmed at Oliver's on the Cape Fear in Southport, which is still an operating restaurant with dine-in service. Unlike most filming locations, this one can be experienced from the inside, and fans can order a meal where the scene took place. It sits near the waterfront, close to the town's other movie sites, making it a convenient lunch stop on a Southport location hunt.
North Carolina, Wilmington Free to see
Filmed here: Various street and town scenes
Wilmington stood in for a variety of street and town scenes throughout the film. The city's historic downtown remains very walkable, with multiple public areas appearing on screen. As the production base, it also hosted the concurrent shoots of Dawson's Creek and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, so many passers-by spots double as locations from those films and shows.
North Carolina, Southport Free to see
Filmed here: Multiple scenes including church and cemetery
Southport provided multiple scenes, including the church and cemetery sequences, and remains a charming coastal town with several accessible filming sites. Fans can cover its A Walk To Remember locations on foot or with a short drive between stops. Beyond the movie connection, the town's waterfront and historic streets make it a pleasant half-day destination in its own right.
The story is set in the fictional town of Beaufort, North Carolina, but no filming took place there. Instead, the production shot primarily in Wilmington, Southport, Atkinson, and Orton Plantation, all in North Carolina. The overlap in state means the coastal atmosphere of the settings feels authentic, even though the named town exists only in the novel and screenplay.
The production was based at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington, which served as the hub for the 39-day shoot. The studio is not open for public tours. During filming, many sets, including the school, hospital, and Landon's home, were borrowed from Dawson's Creek, which was shooting concurrently, and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood was also filming in Wilmington at the same time.
One bookable experience covers this title's territory as part of a broader film-location outing, rather than as a dedicated A Walk To Remember tour.
Wilmywood Movie and TV Location Walk Tour
This guided walk through Wilmington's Historic District covers movie and television filming locations around the city, the same streets that stood in for Beaufort in A Walk To Remember, and it has drawn reviews from past participants.
Almost entirely in North Carolina, mainly in Wilmington, with additional scenes in Southport, Atkinson, and Orton Plantation in Winnabow. Principal photography ran from April 6 to May 27, 2001.
Yes, from the street. The house at 1716 Chestnut Street in Wilmington is a private residence, so viewing is limited to the exterior from the sidewalk.
There were two wedding-related church settings. The wedding at the church was filmed at Trinity United Methodist Church in Southport, while the chapel wedding scene was shot at Luola's Chapel at Orton Plantation, which is private property requiring owner permission to visit.
No. Orton Plantation is private property, and visiting requires permission from the owner. Fans should not plan on unannounced access to the chapel site.
Principal photography lasted only 39 days, from April 6 to May 27, 2001. Mandy Moore, who was a minor during the shoot, was limited to 10-hour workdays.
Indirectly, yes. A Walk To Remember borrowed several sets from Dawson's Creek, including the school, hospital, and Landon's home, since both productions were based in Wilmington at the same time.
A Walk To Remember left a tight cluster of filming sites across Wilmington, Southport, and the surrounding countryside, most of them free and easy to see independently. A guided film-location walk in downtown Wilmington pairs well with a self-driven day trip to Southport for the church, cemetery, and restaurant. Only Orton Plantation's chapel stays out of reach without special permission.
Before You Go
The tours travellers book most for A Walk To Remember.
